Teen accused of break-in spree was ‘non compliant’ with existing bail

A youth charged with 47 offences over an alleged break and enter spree in Brisbane was already on bail for similar offending, a court has heard.

A youth charged with 47 offences over an alleged break and enter spree was already on bail for similar offending, a court has heard.

The Stafford teen, 14, had been “non compliant” with his existing bail program and issued a warning earlier this week, Brisbane Magistrates Court heard at his bail application on Thursday.

He was arrested and charged with 47 offences on Wednesday, relating to break and enters, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and having his face masked with the intent to commit an indictable offence.

Police allege he was involved in multiple break-ins between May 24 to 30 across Camp Hill, Coorparoo, Murray, West End, Seven Hills, Hawthorne, Ashgrove and Kelvin Grove.

Dramatic footage captured his arrest just before 9am, in which the boy allegedly fled on foot and was arrested at a nearby property.

The court heard during his bail application that police claimed to have “solid identification” of the boy on CCTV.

His criminal history included a “large number of similar offences” and he had breached bail previously, the court was told.

However, defence lawyer Jasmin Percy argued there was “weakness” in the case against her client.

“They say that they identify - through the CCTV - him through his facial features,” she said.

“However, the next sentence goes on to say that on all charges he was (allegedly) wearing face masks.”

Ms Percy said police further alleged her client was armed with various weapons and “evading the police at high speeds” at one point.

“None of those allegations are founded in the evidence… There’s no allegation that weapons were used; there’s also no allegation that he was the driver of any of the vehicles that he’s charged with being in.”

The court heard the boy was currently both on bail and on probation.

He had been “non compliant” with his current conditional bail program, as he had struggled to comply with a requirement that he attend school at least four days a week, the court heard.

His defence lawyer Jasmin Percy said her client, who had an intellectual disability, was finding the program more “manageable” now that that had been dropped down to just two days a week.

The boy was denied bail, and his charges were adjourned to June 24.

Originally published as Teen accused of break-in spree was ‘non compliant’ with existing bail